HELP: Topoguide - Description of the fields of routes

Main waypoint

• In most cases, it is preferable that the route title consists of the name of a main waypoint, followed by the name of the route (e.g. Aiguille du Midi : Cosmiques ridge).
  To facilitate maintenance, the name of the waypoint should not be entered in the text field. Select the main waypoint in the selector located to the left of the Title field.
  If the list does not contain the appropriate waypoint, associate it using the association tool located under the map.
• In a minority of cases, it is preferable not to use a main waypoint (raid, route not reaching a remarkable point ...). To do this, select the "empty" option in the selector located to the left of the Title field.

Activities

A document can be associated to one or more activities:

• skitouring : ski-touring and ski-mountaineering, snowboard-touring
• snowshoeing : snowshoeing
• snow, ice and mixed : alpinism with snow, ice or mixed climbing (in high mountain terrain)
• mountain climbing : alpine rock climbing (alpinism on rock), big-wall climbs in the mountains (bolted or not)
• rock climbing : bouldering, single or multi-pitch climbing (bolted or not) on lowland cliffs and crags
• ice climbing : lowland ice-falls, dry-tooling crags
• hiking : scrambling, hiking and trekking in the mountains (not in the lowlands), on or away from marked tracks and trails
• paragliding : descent with a paraglider
• mountain biking : mountain biking
• via ferrata : via ferrata

The difference between rock climbing and alpine rock climbing is mainly based on the altitude of the summit, not on the type of equipment. In Europe, the following rules apply:

• Altitude lower than 2100m: rock climbing
• Altitude between 2100m and 2400m: rock climbing or alpine rock climbing, but generally the former
• Altitude between 2400m and 2700m: rock climbing or alpine rock climbing, but generally the latter
• Altitude greater than 2700m: alpine rock climbing
• For altitudes between 2100m and 2700m, both activities can be selected in case of doubt.

Specific gear

This field allows to mention specific gear required on top of the usual equipment. It gathers information on the specific gear needed and thus, typical gear required for the activity must not be mentioned. Only "unusual" gear (in quantity or quality) must be mentioned.

Examples of useless information:

• ski/snowboard touring, snowshoeing: ARVA beacon, avalanche shovel, snow probe
• alpine snow, ice & mixed climbing: axe, crampons
• glacier route: glacier gear (checking the glacier gear checkbox is enough)
• partially bolted climbing: nuts and slings without further explanation

For further information, read the "Backpack content" articles, for which a link is provided below the text area. When displaying the route, those links are automatically added in the "Gear" field, and followed by the text mentioned here.

Route configuration types

The configuration describes the main relief encountered along the route or of its difficulties only:

• edge : An edge is characterized by a main axis and two sides. Walk-in is generally covered by one of the sides or the edge start.
• pillar : A spur or pillar clearly untied from a face. Generally presents rock climbing, but also ice and mixed climbing. The term pillar is reserved for rock.
• face : A face corresponds to a "plane" face where spurs, corridors or gullies are mixed.
• corridor : A corridor corresponds to a thalweg. It is generally bounded with rocks in the form of pillars or spurs.
• gully : A gully is a straight corridor (starting at 70°) and narrow (a few meters width). A gully often presents ice or mixed climbing.
• glacier : A mountain and glacier route mainly takes place on glaciers and the terrain morphology is not characteristic. Those are classic glacier routes, glacier walks or some mountain routes where there is no distinguishable configuration (e.g. Mont Blanc traverse). The 'Requires glacier gear' field must also be filled in if the glacier has crevasses.

Difficulties start altitude

Altitude of the base of the route, for an itinerary with a clear distinction between the approach and the route itself. This field should not be used for itineraries where the approach and the route cannot be distinguished.

Access height difference

Combined elevation of the approach of a route, for a route where approach is distinguished from the route itself.
The approach height is calculated from minimum altitude and altitude where difficulties start

Hiking/mountain biking exposition

Grading of exposure of hiking and mountain bike. The exposure grade does not take into account objective hazards (eg. rock falls) but only the consequences of a the hiker/biker falling.

• E1 : Fall is possible but with very limited impact for a hiker. For a mountain biker, the injury will be essentially related to the speed.
• E2 : The risk of injury is increased by obstacles or a steep slope.
• E3 : In case of a fall, very serious or deadly injuries.
• E4 : In case of a fall, death is certain.

One-off ski rating

The Labande descent grade is complementary to the global grade. It evaluates the most difficult passage for the ski downhill. It is mostly tied to the slope but also takes exposure into account.

• S1 : Easy descent which does not require any particular technical abilities such as forest tracks for example.
• S2 : Wide slopes which are easy to maneuvre, maybe fairly steep (25°).
• S3 : Slopes up to 35° (equivalent to the steepest runs in ski resorts, on hard snow). Requires good skiing abilities in all snow conditions.
• S4 : Slopes up to 45°, if exposure is low (between 30 and 40° if it is high or the passage is narrow). Very good skiing abilities are required.
• S5 : Slopes between 45 and 50° or more if exposure remains low. From 40° upwards if exposure is high. As well as a perfect downhill skiing technique, control of nerves becomes very important at this level of difficulty.
• S6 : Above 50° if exposure is high (which is often the case) or short stretches above 55° with little exposure.
• S7 : Stretches at 60° or more, high rock bands to jump or more generally very steep or exposed terrain.

See also the help about grades for ski-touring and ski-mountaineering.

Orientations

Main facing of the route or of its main difficulties only.
Additional information can be added into the Remarks field.

Route types

• return trip / abseil down : up and down (mostly) on the same itinerary (or abseil down), from a unique access point (allows gear to be left at the base of the route).
• **loop ** : a loop that brings you back to the start of the route by a different route than that used on the way up. Allows bivi gear to be left at the bivi. Skiing a couloir on-sight but then going back down the same valley qualifies as a loop.
• traverse : traverse between 2 distinct points (such as stages in a multi-day raid). All the gear must be carried on the route.
• raid/expedition : A raid or an expedition lasts at least 3 days and shall be only made of logical traverses (e.g. from hut to hut).

Ski exposition

Grading of exposure of downhill skiing (toponeige).
The exposure grade does not take into account objective hazards (stone fall, seracs …) but only the consequences of a the skier falling.

• E1 : Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.
• E2 : As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.
• E3 : In case of a fall, death is highly likely.
• E4 : In case of a fall, the skier faces certain death.

See also the help about grades for ski-touring and ski-mountaineering.

Linking two routes

Two routes may/should be associated with each other:

• if one is a variant of the other,
• or if the description of one same route varies greatly depending on the season and the activity (skiing / hiking - climbing / snow, ice, mixed ), and that two documents have been created for clarity.